A Visit to Samye-Ling Tibetan Monastery
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- Опубліковано 19 жов 2024
- As part of my trip up north, Robert Croser, my guide, has taken me to a Tibetan monastery just inside the Scottish border.
Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist complex associated with the Karma Kagyu school located at Eskdalemuir, near Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
I am not sure I totally understood it or liked it very much.
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![[English] Kagyu Samye Ling - A Supreme Undertaking](/img/n.gif)
While I appreciate your respect, allow me to explain briefly some of your points. Buddhism takes many forms, encompassing religion and philosophy. When it was brought to the west, it had to accustom itself to different environments, and the teachings were appropriately changed to cater to a new audience. Likewise, historically, it had to change when it went from Northern India, to say, China, Tibet, Japan, Thailand, etc. In the western world, we have connotations of "zen" and "serenity" and "withdrawal from the world", and while many of these elements are true, Buddhism as a religion and institution nonetheless has the influence of human culture and society. Consider the native surroundings of Tibet, a cold, difficult, and barren climate. Buddhist temples with their extravagant architecture, colors, paintings, murals, thangkas, and statues stand out precisely to offer a rest and retreat for visitors, pilgrims, and monks. In a way, we can liken it to Catholic imagery, by presenting religion through rich, gilded, and extravagant means, you are glorifying God or the Buddha. And while that may seem counterproductive and counterintuitive, in order for a religion to be successful and sustainable, it needs to be appealing to certain people, thus, it is only natural in this case with Tibetan Buddhism for things to be grandiose yet inviting. Compare this to say, Zen Buddhism in Japan. Medieval Japan being both lush with natural yet very metropolitan, minimalist designs were offered as an alternative to the bustle of the city or the extravagance of courtly affairs. It's hard to strike a balance of authenticity and appeal indeed, but for many, the colors and adornment are quite beautiful and bring us closer to the dharma.
Please do not refer to the decorations and pieces of the monastery as "weird curiosities", in a way this is an Orientalizing perspective that looks at foreign culture as odd and strange. I know you mean no harm and disrespect, and while it is foreign and unknown to you, it is far from weird for many. Please excuse my lengthy rant, I wish you and yours a pleasant day.
It's a very clumsy and a lazy way to describe a place such as a Monastery as weird. Considering the charitable work Samye ling has dedicated itself to over 50+ years also, he really missed an opportunity to cover Samye Ling meaningfully.
@@DRUM19 Indeed, I hope that people will grow to be more respectful and considerate of religion, rather than turning it into another gimmick, or tourist spot, or commoditized sensation. Sick of people having neo-colonial attitudes, fetishizing culture and religiousity. This video was made in bad taste, but it can be a learning experience for many. And yes, I hear Samye Ling is wonderful. I myself lived close to Kagyu Triyana Dharmachakra back home, wonderful wonderful place with very knowledgeable and kind monastics and staff.
@UCryTrI3gZMg37U5ZqB6cW_Q As a Buddhist and Asian Studies major in undergrad and postgrad, with a thesis on Tibetan Buddhism in America, you're wrong to say Buddhism hasn't changed at the west at all. I'm an advocate for traditional Buddhism and heritage Buddhism, instead of the emphasis on secular meditation apparent in the west. But plenty of schools and traditions have adopted different changes. For example, many Tibetan monasteries are now vegetarian. My issue with this guy is that his presentation is disrespectful and ignorant.
@@hui-an-xin Firstly, Richard was probably more than a little irked that his friend had taken him on a tour of the Scottish Borders instead of Cumbria which is what he really wanted. Secondly, it was raining that puts everybody in a mood of you are getting wet. But more fundamentally, he was being honest in his opinion which I think is to his credit. Surely Buddhism teaches that you should be true to yourself as much as to others and if he feels that a visit to this monastery does not intrigue him to know more, then surely it is not him that is at fault. In my honest opinion, this building is not attractive nor especially spiritual in its design and knowing the Borders very well, it is not appropriate for its setting. This is not an issue about faith, but one of aesthetics. However, if more care and thought had gone into planning the design then perhaps people like Richard would be less inclined to make negative comments which were not intended to insult anybody.
@@PopularesVox buddhism does not believe in being 'true to yourself'. That is humanism.
I first visited Samye Ling back in the early 70s when researching my book, Buddhism in Britain (published 1979), and met the two lamas, Akong Tulku and Yeshe Losal Tulku. I have visited this magnificent place many times over the years and I can tell you, as soon as Samye Ling comes into my sight, I feel an unbelievable stillness and joy. I suggest anyone watching this video should visit Samye Ling - it's an experience you'll never forget!🙏🙏🙏!!
Hahaha, nice one, I’m from the borders of Tibet, great video. Kagyu is an advanced school of Buddhism, no wonder you find everything weird, but the true essence lies in learning about them, you should have interviewed a monk or something and maybe gained some insight into it. But anyway, atleast you saw it.
An explorer 🧭 that’s not sure if he’s in England or Scotland ??? Do some basic research on the subject you’re wandering about in and on Tibet itself and you may not be so embarrassing in future endeavours.
Perhaps in a few hundred years a new generation of bald explorers will appreciate the architecture a bit more. Until then you'll have to make do with old churches.
You are probably right.
Maybe educate yourself before you presume to comment
That hat flatters you, Richard.
Thanks so much.
Thank you Richard and Robert for taking us to a place where we wouldn’t know existed. It was very interesting to see something different. A beautiful peaceful place to be. I much prefer older buildings, it was a good video despite the weather.
Thanks Ann.
What a beautiful setting. I guess for Tibetan Buddhists the individual colours have different meanings. I think it all reflects the fact that it was built in the 60s. I'm sure the old, traditional temples are more subtle.
I am not a fan of the 1960 architecture so you probably can tell.
Just visited here and thought it was wonderful. I watched your video to find out more about it. I assume the bright colours to do with the rising sun
I had 3 pugs that all died of old age and were buried at the Lao Buddhist temple here in Auckland. It is good luck for afterlife for their reincarnation to be at the temple.
Fair enough.
A glorious setting - I can see why the Buddhists chose there. The main building suffers primarily from its era - no paintwork can redeem what is otherwise a 60s office building!
A comprehensive school came to my mind ... with cladding!
Yep!
Hahahah - too right Nigel!
did you know that church interiors were originally painted in such bright colors? maybe someone could give you a tour and explain the symbolism as well as the history.
thank you, Robert and Richard.
Oh yes, back in day the churches in Britain were also bright and garish places. That I do know. But the churches were built of local stone, mostly, and looked right in the environment
church has a jesus statue and many chairs, but in tibetan buddhism you will see so many expensive statues and ofeerings in form of money and food. before oridinary tibetan were very poor and used to live in huts or mudhouse , but monastries always benn rich with gold , silk and plenty of offerings. they are literally stealing money from followers in name of religion. tibetan buddhism is most corrupted form of buddhism , its like midevil churches. All the money offerings goes into the pockets of lamas and rinpochens. they are all filthy rich with many millions of dollar.
@@dhoukartsebunja9398 this tells very little about Tibetan Buddhism and much more about your outlook about it
I suppose that my looking at the Buddha for many years makes my view a lot different. I love the colors, the brightness and the peaceful approach to life the followers have. I am not a follower or the Buddha, just someone who is interested in the various approaches to life. Is there a place where Taoism is followed in England? That would be an interesting walk too.
I do agree that a peaceful approach to life is best, but I did find the colours in such environment very jarring.
@@RichardVobes i have to admit it did take me a while (years) to get accustomed to the bright colours. Now I enjoy them.
Very nice area 👍🏻
Cheers Tom
amazing location thanks for sharing
So pleased you enjoyed it.
Interesting but not my cup of tea.
Neither mine.
Thanks Richard and Robert. I hold a very high respect for Buddhist's they are very peaceful and wise people, but I have to agree with you with regards to the building. For a group who are so in touch with nature and the natural world around them it seems somewhat bizarre that all the emphasis has been placed on the modern building and making it stand out from it's environment. Buddha bunting hahaha.
Buddha Bunting is my high point. It is all down hill from there.
Buddhists don't believe in being 'in touch with nature' that's druids
@@crunch1757 ah thanks for the update. I'll inform the Buddhist that told me they live in harmony with nature (among other things) that he was wrong. How silly he will feel after travelling the world when he could have come to a UA-cam comment section.
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He has absolutely no idea about what its all about really.....shame.
I would just comment that the outside of the temple looked like a college dormitory. The inside did appear as if something of a prayer place.
Here in Plainfield we have an Islamic mosque. You never see cars in the huge parking lot. It’s built very near town.
I these religions are a mystery to me. But you did a respectable thing. Nice tour of a beautiful setting. May the force be with you.
Thanks Judith.
Again Buddhist/Tibetan Monastery & Scottland not something I would have put together (like the fairy vid). But had you ever visited Oregon & driven by the big one they have in Portland, not something you prob would put together either. Still, was interesting to see the inside grounds (they keep that one gated up in Portland). That landscape pic you showed was gorgeous! You ever make it back to Scottland maybe you can visit the lower east side - Aberdeenshire - & visit some of my Clan Strachan (Strawn) family sites!
It was a funny old place for sure.
Wow, I thought it looked amazing, and clearly very peaceful
Glad you liked it Bry.
That place is very interesting, though I do agree it's a bit out of place where it is. And it looks quite empty when you were there, I don't expect there is many Buddha people up that way. I'll be honest I'm not fond of it, it's not my sort of thing, quite mysterious to me.
Well done you two 👍
Yes indeed, not my thing at all!
If you want to be happy, it is for you. If you’re already happy, then too you may yet find out what true happiness is. It is possibly the most transparent philosophy/religion out there.
I think it was the cladding that did it in for me... In beautiful weather, it might have been passable, certainly some of the landscape artworks were brilliant. Quite a challenge on all levels for the un-initiated in poor weather. Very far from a disgraceful report!
I think honesty in the reporting is what matters and when I don't really like something, I believe one has to be truthful to the viewer. Thanks Nigel.
I think that the animals are looked after by the Dalai Farmer.
Ha! Very probably :)
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